While Jennie is not a regular on the new "90210," her casting will link the new generation of rich teens to the original 90s TV series. Here, she will play counselor to the new kids at West Beverly High.

This is appropriate because Kelly has had a wealth of life experiences to share with the new crew. Who else has survived fires? Stolen boyfriends? Been kidnapped? Suffered anorexia? Been tricked into joining a cult? Been addicted to cocaine and diet pills? Shot her rapist? Dealt with unplanned pregnancy? Been shot?

And who says TV is devoid of realism?

The show will be updated for today's audiences, with the signature 90s cheese factor to be significantly toned down. Creators have also promised the cast will be more ethnically diverse, to reflect the real "90210".

The show will focus around the Mills family (Heather's not related), which consists of two teens: Annie Mills, an emo/theater kid, who wants to fit in with the cool crowd; and Dixon Mills, the adopted son, who is predictably also a smart bad boy with behavioral issues.

While producers have pursued Jennie Garth, they have all but ignored Tori Spelling's publicly expressed interest in possibly reprising her character as Donna Martin-Silver. Tori's flagging career could use the boost as much as her breasts did 15 years back, but producers are not interested. They may be turned off by her efforts, which have reeked of desperation; or alternatively of her inability to look like anything other than a horse with a manicure.

Tori has resorted to making up a role for herself, recently telling People Magazine "Well, I am a mom now, proud to say, but obviously too young to have a teenager, so maybe I could be one of the main characters' young step-mom playing the funny sex ed teacher at the high school would be funny, too, considering Donna Martin was America's most infamous virgin." You mean, apart from Jamie Lynn Spears?

In any event, this show is likely to satisfy viewers' obsession with Southern California, replacing the void left by the OC and complementing the reality soap opera "The Hills". There is however one thing they can do in the meantime, to tip the scales of the anticipation: bring back Steve Sanders. Because eight year being deprived of the Steve Sanders Mullet is arguably eight years too long.

by Stephen Mai

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